One unfortunate elevator at the Long Island Rail Road's Woodside
station in Queens has been inundated with so much urine that its
floor has rusted and warped, interfering with its door mechanics
and frequently forcing it out of commission.

"The mechanics of the elevator are constantly being
contaminated," said LIRR President Helena Williams during an LIRR
committee meeting Monday, where she described the lift as having
a "vertical urinal problem."

As a result, the elevator, which shuttles riders from the
station's mezzanine-level to an LIRR platform, was only in
commission 58 percent of the time in February — versus 97 percent
for elevators across the LIRR system — making it the
worst-performing lift in any LIRR station, an MTA spokesman said.

“The deterioration is significant," he said, adding that
maintenance crews weren't sure exactly why the elevator was such
a target, considering it was just one of five lifts at the
station.

Adding to the mystery is that the station also offers rare public
toilets on the mezzanine level.

But the elevators also aren't the only parts of the transit
system that have needed to be overhauled because of frequent
toilet stops.

Years ago, subway cars had vinyl floor tiles that were laid over
plywood. But over time, the plywood floors began to rot and smell
foul — which subway officials attributed to urine damage.

In response, New York City Transit switched to "an epoxy floor
with marine-grade plywood sub floor," helping to seal out liquids
and eliminate the smell.

The agency also switched from aluminum alloy to brass door
saddles after it found urine was damaging the devices, which sit
under doorways.